Some doubt about whether
Mateu Lahoz should have sent off Athletic Bilbao's Amorebieta this weekend,
many fans thinking that it only merited a yellow. However Mateu didn't have
much choice given the stricter interpretation of the rules by the referees'
committee. Undiano Mallenco has already fallen foul of that, Spain's World Cup
referee (and therefore presumably the best at the moment) being put in the
proverbial "fridge" for three weeks after failing to send off Athletic's
Gurpegui for a hard tackle on Atlético's Agüero a couple of weeks
ago. Mateu is highly thought off at the federation and could be Spain's next
international referee. (28.09.10)